Why couldn't you sew him a small pillow case that would fit into a microwave. Fill it with rice enough so it isn't hard. He could then heat this in the microwave like the Bed Buddies that are sold in the stores. This he could then put in the bed and rest his feet on it. If it is too hot he could wrap it in a towel so it wouldn't burn his feet. Bed Buddies keep warm for quite awhile.

"He lives in the northeast in an apartment where he cannot control the heat."

Does he have to pay for heating his apartment? If so, then he should be allowed to control how warm/cold the apartment is. Tell him to check with his local Realty board (there is usually someone who is an expert in landlord-tenant issues) to find out what his rights are.

But, to solve the immediate issue, how about a heating pad, or an electric blanket or electric mattress pad?

Why not small electric heating pad. They come with nice covers now and will automatically shut off after a certain period of time. I use one at the other end of the bed near my neck.

Good morning...
I occasionally use a hot water bottle in the winter here in Ontario. They work just fine and I believe they are under $10.
The water should be as hot as you can get it out of the tap, but not boiling hot from the kettle. That amount of heat may cause the bag itself to deteriorate.

When you fill the bottle, fill it about 2/3 to 3/4 full, then set it in the sink & squeeze it a bit until the water bubbles out the opening & keep that pressure on while you put the plug in and do it up. That way, you don't notice the water splashing around inside the bottle as much and it's not as thick & hard as it would be if there is air in there.

Make sure the plug is fairly tight when you fill it up.

I use an old pillowcase & just wrap the excess around the bottle so there could be a couple layers of cloth between me & the bag.

I did knit a couple of bottle covers but I didn't like them. They were both too big, stretched a lot while using them and didn't conduct the warmth as well as an old pillowcase. I have issues with dry skin on my heels and the knitted covers seems to get caught on the skin.

My hot water bottle keeps my feet warm for hours. I tuck it under the covers about 15 minutes before I go to bed & the bed is then pre-warmed. I often find that I have to set it aside in the middle of the night. It should stay warm (but not necessarily hot) for at 4-5 hours.

I have never used a rice bag. One of those would probably work just fine too.

Try filling a water/ soda / pop / milk / bottle or jug made of plastic with hot tap water, use two or three as many as needed. Most will keep a bed warm for hours ....one under a blanket while curled up will keep you toasty. I use one on the floor and "roll it with my feet" while sitting at the computer ...sometimes a small one behind my back for lower back pain. If there is pending bad weather we put one in bed in case of power failure, and always in a sleeping bag when camping. If it is just his feet that are always cold, maybe have him check with his primary care doctor, poor circulation or diabetes might be a factor.

I like the rice packs.

With my Raynaud's, cold feet are a major issue! I've used the rice packs, but I've found the gel pad I bought at Walmart holds its heat much longer. It still feels a bit warm when I get up in the morning. The gel pad is also softer than the other options. It costs between $10 and $15 and lasts years.

When I'm not in bed, I use disposable foot warmers. I buy them in boxes of 40 pairs on Amazon for $40. They are very thin and stick to the bottom of my socks. Great inventions!

See if you can find one of the old-fashioned pottery foot warmer things. You might have to check out antique stores. Mine is of beige material, holds about 2 quarts of hot water (I'm guessing), with a lid that screws in. You fill it with hot water from the spigot and the thing stays hot for hours. And yes, if you can get your feet warm, the rest of you is comfy, cozy, as well. I've been using the footwarmer for over 15 years now, and wouldn't be without it. I live in fear that someday the thing will break, and I'll have to find another--LOL!

Even here in Northern California I often get cold feet if I've kicked my shoes off in the evening. So I've been using the heating pad at the foot of the bed while we read, then unplug it before we sleep. My feet become toasty-warm fairly quickly and dh doesn't have to worry about icebergs coming his way. I'd be afraid to leave it plugged in all night, though I'm pretty sure most of them have safety devices now.

I always have cold feet, too. I take a heating pad to bed with me at night, lay it across my torso and in about 20 minutes I'm toasty all over. I shut it off, pull it out and toss it on my nightstand. I have an old one, love it, and a new one that shuts off in 60 minutes, which annoys me, I want to be in control!

I used to use a rice bag but it always felt like a damp heat, no matter what I tried. And it got to where I couldn't stand the smell of the rice. Electric suits me better. I'd have an electric mattress pad if Woody could stand it, but he's so hot already, I'd hate to cook him! I know, dual controls, but still.....

Get him a corn bag or heating pack of some kind. I tried rice and it gets stinky, corn does too but not as fast. I've switched to flax seed. They stay warm about 45 min.

Heating pad would hold the heat all night long. That would be my first choice.

Otherwise, a rice or corn bag would be pretty good too.

Personally, I love the hot water bottle thing. I have a really old one from Germany. Galvanized steel. I never but really hot water in it. You could burn yourself. Hot from the tap is hot enough.

But, again, they won't hold the heat all night long. He might do fine with something that doesn't hold the heat all night, as long as he can start out with a warm spot?

Moni

Heating pads are great, but they can burn you. It is not recommended that they be used while sleeping. Since this is your son, you don't want to be worried about that. I highly recommend a mattress pad heater. We have one, and we turn it on about an hour before bed and the whole bed stays toasty. The bottom is warmer than the top, just for this reason!

Trish

most of the newer heating pads cut off after awhile...he might like a down comforter...look for ones on sale!

I can sympathize! Nothing worse than crawling in to freezing cold sheets when your feet are like ice!
Tell him a dog makes a great foot warmer! LOL
I'd love a heated mattress pad myself, but DH is the total opposite of me, he'd sweat in it if he was anywhere near it. (I know they have dual controls but he'd still sweat)
My DS lived in an apt above a business once too,(it was a bar) it was always freezing upstairs cause they'd turn the heat wayyyy down downstairs and one thermostat controlled the building.
He bought one of the electric radiators on wheels that could be taken from room to room.

Check out this linke on pillows.
The one I bought was Ambient comfort. There are other pillows that serve different purposes.
One of the things mentioned in the Ambient pillow is cold feet.

Yes, a pillow.
See what all the link says it can do..I bought one and love it.

Here is a link that might be useful: pillows

Definitely the rice bag. Won't leak, easy to warm up in the micro.

Does he wear socks around the house? As a knitter, you know that wool socks are MUCH warmer than cotton. Or maybe he needs a pair of those UGG type slippers.

Cold feel are miserable.

When going to the country house, with no heat source except the fire place. Grownups would heat bricks, wrap them in towels and put them at the foot of kids beds to keep our feet warm and cozy while we slept.

I have been meaning to tell everyone about the things I wear on my feet since December to keep them warm. Now I can!

Foot Duvets! My best kept secret! I had never heard of them but my sister for my birthday in October gave me a pair of foot duvets. She got them at Restoration Hardware in St. Louis but I think they have locations elsewhere or you can also shop online.

These things are like slippers but look like blimps. LOL They aren't for walking around but for wearing in bed or while sitting. They don't have any support in them. They are the softest, nicest things I have ever put on my feet. They are down filled and the insides are sooo soft.

I have Raynaud's Syndrome and if I don't have something on me feet in the winter I have incredible pain in my feet. I used to wear small anklets all the time but found them too binding and would kick them off during the night only to have to get up and put them back on when my feet get cold. Doesn't help that my bedroom is the coldest room in the house and my bed is situated against 2 outside walls.

These foot duvets are so light that you aren't even aware you have them on your feet. Your feet stay warm but don't overheat. They are light as feathers - no kidding!

I can't wait to get into bed so I can put them on my feet! I even plan to wear them in the summer because my feet still get cold even then. I wish they made them for hands because I sometimes I have to wear mittens to bed to keep my hands warm so I won't be in pain.

They are very roomy and large. I don't think they cost very much or my sister wouldn't have purchased them for me.

Wonderful things for keeping feet warm and would be great for the elderly. I wish I had these for my Mom when she went into the hospital because they kept her socks on and she got her first bed sore on the heel of her foot. These would have prevented that.

Give them a try if you can find them. Your son's cold feet will love you for it.

Anne